Jobsite safety precautions can address the top culprits: falls,
struck by object, electrocution and caught-in/between. However, there is another
danger on jobsites that gets less attention but has a much higher incident rate:
injuries.

For construction workers, performing basic job functions and daily
motions incorrectly – walking, standing or lifting – can result in a serious or
life-threatening injury.

The perception of construction as a dangerous job is likely one of
the reasons the sector is in a talent crisis. In order to safeguard existing
workers, attract new ones and protect themselves legally, construction
businesses need to put an emphasis on safety.

A dedicated wellness program, with an emphasis on physiologically informed
safety knowledge, is a smart effort for any construction organization. It helps
with injury prevention and differentiating that company as an attractive
employer. Here are the key elements a construction wellness program should include:

ANATOMY EDUCATION AND PRACTICING THE RIGHT
POSTURES

It’s not a
mystery why most construction workers have bad backs. The job is physical. But
this issue is avoidable. Many workers either think “I know how to walk and
carry – I’ve done it my whole life.” Or they just started picking up tips by
observing when they started in construction. But how many have actual training
on anatomy?

Offering anatomy
education – combined with physical practice of the right posture for tackling
different parts of the job – is the cornerstone of a wellness program. It should
be part of any new employee onboarding and offered regularly to retrain
existing workers on best practices.

A key point to teach
is the difference between “precision” and “power” fingers and using the right
ones for different tasks. Another mindful lifting, climbing and walking –
information on which muscles protect your back and techniques to appropriately
safeguard it, such as ensuring three points of contact (two feet and a hand, or
vice versa) when climbing into equipment.

Unless people have
in-depth understanding of all this, they’ll likely use their muscles wrong and
injure themselves. And it’s not just the informational education that’s needed.
Companies need to incorporate practice of these motions in a classroom-style
setting outside the field, until they’re perfected.

AGC of America members consider safety and health
on jobsites as a top priority in the workplace. AGC’s Safety and Health
Services provides a wealth of information and services on construction safety
and health through our numerous safety resources.

AGC Safety and Health Conference [http://meetings.agc.org/safety/ ] . Join more than 200 industry professionals and participate in the development of regulatory and legislative activity on both a national and local levels, assist in the development and creation of new safety training programs and products and hear the latest initiatives from OSHA and other industry experts at this semi-annual conference.

AGC of America’s online training collaboration with ClickSafety.com includes a comprehensive library of courses, many available in both English and Spanish, covering a variety of construction safety and general industry topics.

FATIGUE AWARENESS
AND COMPLIANCE WITH BREAK TIME

Handling heavy
equipment for long periods of time is not only physically demanding. It leads
to mental fatigue too.

Companies need to educate workers on how to
recognize signs of physical and mental fatigue: body temperature fluctuations,
increased heart rate, lightheadedness, forgetfulness, inability to focus. These
indicators of both physical and mental fatigue are often a precursor to the mistakes
that often lead to a more serious injury or possible fatality.

In addition to
training on the signs of fatigue, ensuring worker compliance with breaks is
critical. That may mean putting a manager in charge of walking around and
physically telling people to stop working if they aren’t already doing so at
the appropriate times.

Rest and relief
times are central to overall wellness, and that requires a top-down commitment
to prioritizing the time where workers can unwind physically and mentally.

INTEGRATING SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Physiologically informed
knowledge is the basis for safety and wellness, but technology can be a big aid
as well. Wearables are used in many wellness programs, often to keep desk
workers active throughout the day, but can monitor vital signs for construction
workers who perform physical labor in natural elements and intense weather.

Many
organizations are also using GPS technology and geofencing to track safety
hazards such as speeding (a major cause of “struck by” incidents) or equipment
operating outside of its approved zone. They’re also using technology to manage
maintenance and inspection schedules and daily reports, to ensure there are no
outstanding repairs or dangerous equipment on site.

Monitoring
the safe movement and operation of assets is critical, and that can’t always be
achieved on the construction site, where it’s hard to see everything going on. This
is why technology that provides in-office management visibility and identifies
hazards has become so popular. Integrating it into a safety program greatly
strengthens a company’s results.

In the mix of
everything that needs to be addressed, worker wellness often falls to the
wayside. Companies that don’t invest in physiology at all may be contributing
to long-term damage and injury of their workers.

As an employer,
focusing on safety through worker wellness and supporting technology is the
right thing to do. It will also help prevent on-site mistakes and injuries,
boost your reputation as an employer amid this talent shortage and create a
more productive workforce that keeps projects on-track and completed with the
highest standards of quality.

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